Keeper mechanism



May 18, 1 J. J. STEFFAN KEEPER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 22, 1950 N@ Rmm F TF. N 5mm V I ma M P m CU wow FICLE. H6. 7.

ATTORNEY.

threads of the slidable nuts in alinement with the enlarged bolt-receiving holes 18. A latch-receiving box 21 is provided with open flanges 28 (Figures 2, 4 and 8) clamped between the keeper I4 and portions of the metallic jamb, while the outer margin of the box lies in the latch-receiving opening l3. Said box 21 is thus interposed between the slidable nut members. It contacts with the return bends 26 of the nut members, so as to positively locate the nut threads in approximate alinement with the large bolt holes I8 and prevent undesirable displacement of the slidable nut members when said nut members are shifted with the keeper M and its attaching bolts ll.

These slidable nut members can be readily positioned and held within the jamb before the bolts H are applied to the jamb, thereby preventing the nuts from falling into the hollow jamb while the device is being assembled, or when the bolts are deliberately removed to detach the keeper plate, and also when said bolts are accidentally removed in adjusting the keeper. Furthermore, the slidable nut members are interlocked with the top and bottom walls defining the upper and lower edges of the latchreceiving opening in such a manner that the nut threads are almost automatically positioned to receive the bolts. The latch box 21 is interposed between the nut members so as to definitely locate the nuts in desirable initial positions, and thereafter positively retain the nut members in interlocking engagement with the jamb, while allowing said nut members to freely slide with the adjustable keeper.

I claim:

1. A keeper mechanism adapted for use on a hollow sheet metal door jamb having a latchreceiving opening and bolt-receiving openings above and below said latch-receiving opening, said keeper mechanism comprising U-shaped nut members having inner and outer arms slidably embracing walls of the jamb defining the upper and lower edges of said latch-receiving opening, the inner arm of each nut member having screw thread-engaging means positioned to register with one of said bolt-receiving openings in the jamb, a keeper plate overlying the outer arms of said nut members, and bolts passing through said keeper plate and through the bolt-receiving openings in the jamb and screwed into the screw thread-engaging means of the inner arms of said nut members to secure the keeper plate to the jamb, the bolt-receiving openings in the jamb being large with respect to the diameter of the bolts extending therethrough whereby lateral adjustment of the keeper plate is permitted.

2. A keeper mechanism adapted for use on a hollow sheet metal door jamb having a latchreceiving opening and bolt-receiving openings above and below said latch-receiving opening, said keeper mechanism comprising U-shaped nut members having inner and outer arms slidably embracing walls of the jamb defining the upper and lower edges of said latch-receiving opening, a keeper plate overlying the outer arms of said nut members, bolts passing through said keeper plate and through the bolt-receiving openings in the jamb and screwed into the inner arms of said nut members to secure the keeper plate to the jamb, and a latch-receiving box positioned within the latch-receiving opening of said jamb between the U-shaped nut members and proportioned to retain said nut members in embracing engagement with the jamb.

3. The keeper mechanism of claim 2, wherein the latch-receiving box is provided with framelike flanges lying between the keeper plate and the jamb, and loosely embracing the outer arms of the nut members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,297,528 Wright Mar. 18, 1919 1,323,755 Gogay Dec. 2, 1919 1,610,369 Goodard Dec. 14, 1926 2,042,024 Schlage May 26, 1936 2,086,049 Schlaman July 6, 1937 2,222,449 Tinnerman Nov. 19, 1940 2,366,114 Kost Dec. 26, 1944 2,370,781 Cullum Mar. 6, 1945 

